Art Hotels

The building once belonged to the Borghese estate. Today its rooms pair mid-century and contemporary furniture with canvases, prints and objects picked for each space. A painting might hang over the headboard; a sculpture might share a shelf with the books.

Downstairs, a low-lit restaurant keeps the same mood. Via del Corso and the Spanish Steps sit within an easy walk, yet the street outside stays hushed.

The estate stands at Castelnau-le-Lez, just beyond Montpellier's ring of suburbs. Its historic house was reworked with bold furniture, sculptural lighting and art by living designers.

Some pieces announce themselves at once. Others take a day or two to notice: a wall work at the end of a corridor, a chair that turns out to be a commission.

There is a spa, a garden and a restaurant. The estate's own wine connects the whole place back to the vines.

The Saxon occupies a garden site in Sandhurst, a green northern suburb. Low buildings spread around pools and lawns; stone, timber and woven textures keep everything warm and quiet.

Works by African artists fill the lounges and suites — carvings, beadwork, paintings, photography. They read as a living collection, not a museum hang.

Private villas suit families or longer visits. A spa and a well-regarded restaurant mean many guests rarely leave.